Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera said the government will provide compensation subject to a maximum of Rs. 2.5 million to houses that have been partially or fully damaged due to recent disaster.
The Sri Lankan Report
Sri Lanka has sought urgent financial support of USD 200 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under its Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Evan Papageorgiou confirmed today. He stated that the request is currently under review and remains subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board before any disbursement is made. The RFI is a facility provided to countries facing sudden balance-of-payments pressures due to external shocks, natural disasters, or emergencies. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also confirmed in Parliament today that the government has formally requested RFI support from the IMF, citing the unprecedented…
Reaffirming its long-standing partnership with Sri Lanka, VFS Global has extended support to the country’s official flood relief efforts, offering financial assistance and mobilising employees to help affected families.
ECONOMYNEXT – A supplementary estimate of 500 billion rupees will be made to parliament to get extra funds Cyclone Ditwah linked spending in 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. For 2025, a supplementary estimate of 50 billion rupees will be made, President Dissanayake told parliament Friday. The government plans to spend around 72 billion rupees in Cyclone Ditwah related recovery work and relief in 2025 he said. Some of the spending for fixing roads can be accommodated within maintenance funds already allocated he said. The government will sharply increase compensation for people hit by Cyclone Ditwah compared to previous disaster.…
ECONOMYNEXT – The third reading of Sri Lanka’s national budget for 2026 has been passed by a majority in its parliament. The budget was passed with 158 voting for and 1 against. There were 2 abstentions. The budget debate lasted 21 days. Parliament is set to convene again on January 6, 2026. This is the second budget by the national Peoples’ Power government. President Anura Disanayake addressed the parliament in the day and promised additional funds will be allocated for disaster-affected persons. (Colombo/Dec5/2025)
Pots, quadrants, confederation constraints, group position grids… the 2026 World Cup finals draw on Friday is not going to be a straightforward affair.
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) in Polonnaruwa has warned that the Moragahakanda Reservoir is currently at a critically high level, reaching 97.87 percent of its storage capacity. Officials say that any significant rainfall over the next few days could push the reservoir to full capacity. Authorities have urged the public living downstream and in low-lying areas to remain vigilant, as the situation may require controlled release of water depending on weather conditions. Residents have been advised to follow official updates and avoid attempting to cross areas near spillway zones or flooded irrigation channels. (Newswire) The post Moragahakanda Reaches 97.87% Water…
ECONOMYNEXT – Death toll in Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah-hit devastation rose to 609 on Friday while 214 are still missing, the government data showed, as roads accessible to flood and landslide sites are being restored. Rescue operation continued on Friday but hopes of people inside rubbles being rescued alive faded, officials said, as many people are feared buried due to the landslides and earth slips in hilly areas amid floods in some coastal districts along the river basins. Central Sri Lanka district of Kandy topped the death toll list with 232 people being killed with 89 people still missing. So…
Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna said today that he was rescued by the war heroes when he was caught in the floods.
The third reading of the 2026 Budget was passed in Parliament today with amendments, receiving an overwhelming majority in favour. According to the final vote count, 158 Members of Parliament voted for the Budget, while only one voted against it. Two MPs abstained. The post Budget 2026 passed with amendments: 158 in favour, only 1 against appeared first on Newswire.
A 29-year-old Tanzanian woman gave birth at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after arriving from Dubai this morning.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has sought 200 million US dollars (150.5 million special drawing rights) from the International Monetary Fund through a Rapid Financing Instrument, in addition to the existing program. “The Sri Lankan authorities have requested financial assistance from the IMF under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) for SDR 150.5 million,” Mission chief Evan Papageorgiou said in a statment. “This request is currently under consideration and subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board.” RELTED : Sri Lanka seeks extra funds and relief from IMF, review likely in Feb: President Sri Lanka has to repay 216 million US dollars…
Rehan Jayawickreme has resigned from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), stating that his personal views no longer align with the party’s direction. Jayawickreme, the SJB’s Weligama organiser and former Mayor of Weligama, announced his decision in a letter dated 6 December 2025, addressed to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. In the letter, he said his decision followed “considerable self-reflection,” adding that the country’s current challenges require “fresh ideas, actions without constraint, and forthright engagement.” “It is time for me to introspect, be challenged, and chart an independent path,” he wrote, noting that he will continue in politics despite stepping away from…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is seeking extra funds from the International Monetary Fund and 200 million dollars in immediate relief after Cyclone Ditwah, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament. The review that was supposed to take place is likely to be delayed till January or February 2026. The situation now was different from when the last Staff Level Agreement was signed and there will be new staff discussion in January he said. “But we also have an instant dollar need,” President Dissnayake said. “To get instant relief, we have asked for 200 million dollar relief. We have made the request…
The Colombo Commercial High Court issued several enjoining orders against several vendors and booksellers engaged in the unauthorised reproduction and public distribution of the novella ’Mai Maara Prasangaya’ authored and published by popular novelist Mahinda Prasad Masimbula.
IndiGo has cancelled hundreds of flights across India this week after failing to make sufficient changes to its roster planning to accommodate new government norms. Bengaluru: A unique and unexpected scene unfolded in Karnataka’s Hubballi when a newlywed couple had to attend their own reception virtually, after widespread IndiGo flight cancellations prevented them from travelling to the city. The reception of Medha Kshirsagar of Hubballi and Sangama Das of Odisha’s Bhubaneswar, both software engineers working in Bengaluru, was scheduled to be held at Gujarat Bhavan, Hubballi. The couple got married in Bhubaneswar on November 23, and a formal reception was…
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today announced a comprehensive housing assistance package for families affected by the recent floods and landslides, unveiling a series of financial grants and long-term support during his address to Parliament. He stated that the government will ensure immediate and long-term relief for displaced households, prioritising safer relocation away from landslide-prone and high-risk flood zones. The housing assistance package includes the following measures: • Rs. 50,000 allowance per affected household to purchase essential household items, regardless of house or land ownership. • Rs. 25,000 monthly allowance for three months for families that lost homes and need to…
The death toll from Sri Lanka’s worst natural disaster in two decades has climbed to 607, according to updated figures released by authorities today. At least 214 people are still reported missing following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah and subsequent landslides and floods across multiple districts The post Sri Lanka’s flood disaster death toll rises to 607, with 214 still missing appeared first on Newswire.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today assured Parliament that emergency regulations will not be used to suppress freedom of expression or criticism directed at the government. Addressing concerns sparked by remarks made recently by Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala, the President said there was “unnecessary uproar” over the statement and insisted that public opinion will not be curtailed under emergency law. He stated that neither he nor the administration is bothered by critical or unfavourable comments made against them, adding that existing laws are adequate to deal with defamatory content if required. However, President Dissanayake warned that emergency regulations will be strictly…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said the sector is working closely with all member organizations to identify disaster-affected employees and provide assistance. “Across the country, companies are already providing emergency support, including food, clothing, temporary shelter, transport assistance, and other essential supplies for displaced workers, their families and the local community,” it said in a statement. Most factories across the country have resumed normal operations, JAAF said, with only a few isolated pockets still facing access and other infrastructure-related challenges. “To streamline relief coordination, JAAF has established focal points for member companies to report affected communities…